Has anyone ever used the Laurel Valley Soils Pelletized Compost? I am curious to hear what the results and experiences with this product have been. I have been talking with these people about using their product. Problem is, they don't have any distributors in the area. They are going to ship me a couple of bags I can test use, but if I wanted to use this stuff I'd have to buy a large quantity and/or go get the stuff myself from PA. I'm not real sure I could distribute a semi trailer full of this stuff, just to get enough for my usage. There doesn't seem to be any other dealers of this stuff anywhere around here, and this pelletized compost stuff seems to be a good alternative for top dressing when I aerate.

Thanks!

:D

mmacsek

09-09-2004, 08:46 PM

Tom,
I checked their website and the nearest dealer is below Phila. by the Delaware border. I was planning to visit them this winter. I know that doesn't help with the aerating/topdressing now. I'm real interested how it works also. I know this didn't answer your question but I'm waiting for the storm to move north. Matt

mtdman

09-09-2004, 09:50 PM

He's got retail stores in Western PA though. His solution was me buying a semi truck full of the stuff, but I have no use for that. I'd like to get a garden supplier around here to carry the stuff for me! I've got a couple of project lawns that I think I'm going to use this stuff on and see how they turn out. The fellow I talked to seems to think that adding it after aeration is a big benefit, on par with actually topdressing. I dunno about that. All I know is top dressing equipment just hasn't come far enough for residentials, without a major expense output, for me to take up at this time. I'd like to start out with using something like this and work my way towards doing actual topdressing. If this pelletized stuff is any good.

I never found the smell of Milorganite to be that offensive. It's kind of like a spicy buritto. It is organic and will do what you want as far as rehabbing the lawn. Compare prices with Nature safe or any of the poultry derivitives. Those products are way too expensive for what they are. We use it on the greens and tees at work to get the necessary organic matter. I am a believer that any turf program should include some organic fertilizers as well as synthetic.

I'll even give you a couple of bags to try on your own lawn, Tom.

And using words like "sewage" and "sludge" to connote that the product is bad for some reason doesn't fly with me. Its like we are talking politics, where the connotation of the word is more important than the meaning.

dishboy

09-11-2004, 01:39 PM

Alfalfa pellets 2.45-0.5-1.65 no smell, lots of OM, $5.70 per 50 lbs. can be applied with a modified spreader.

Grassmechanic

09-11-2004, 02:30 PM

Tom.

And using words like "sewage" and "sludge" to connote that the product is bad for some reason doesn't fly with me. Its like we are talking politics, where the connotation of the word is more important than the meaning.I've used Milorganite in the past, with favorable results,. However, I'm ceasing to use it until I get more info about possible heavy metal contamination that is associated with Milorganite.

Milorganite just is not a complete package. with 0 potash and fairly phos. and you need to applya lot.

Nature Safe 10-2-8 is considerably more expensive. However, you are getting a more complet product and putting down 40% less product. I have really fallen in love with naturesafe --- seems to be by far the best organic product out there. Combination fast release slow realease all through organic products. All food grade products. Great Stuff

Maybe I shoul dbe more worried about the heavy metals in Milorgainte -- but I have chosen to beleive the positive research I have read rather than the negative research.
Grass =mechanic -- have you read the posts on here form the Milorganite attorney who cites several sources that milorganite is safe?

mtdman

09-11-2004, 06:41 PM

I don't want a natural fertilizer, I want a substitute for topdressing with a compost.

Hamons

09-11-2004, 07:16 PM

Your right - I think we hijacked your thread -- sorry. SInce the main benefit of toprdressign is the addition of organic matter --- i don't think there is any substitute for the bulk supplied by the actual compost. If you are looking just for the "good bugs" then you might want to try compost tea.

mtdman

09-12-2004, 07:29 AM

Your right - I think we hijacked your thread -- sorry. SInce the main benefit of toprdressign is the addition of organic matter --- i don't think there is any substitute for the bulk supplied by the actual compost. If you are looking just for the "good bugs" then you might want to try compost tea.
This is why I asked about the results from using pelletized compost from Laurel Valley Soils. I just wanted to know how using that compared to actual compost. I know there are some folks on here who have said they've used it in the past.

Grassmechanic

09-12-2004, 08:56 AM

Grass =mechanic -- have you read the posts on here form the Milorganite attorney who cites several sources that milorganite is safe?
No, I haven't read anything from a Milorganite attorney as I believe they may be biased. I have read some reports from independent labs and university testing about heavy metals in Milorganite. The problem is that I would like to see more test results before making up my mind about Milorganite.